Promoting Paediatric Pain Management

Thank you all for your ongoing support to promote paediatric pain management. Whilst the world continues to be dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of pain management remains high on the agenda of many, as the care of children in pain continues to be challenging, with the need for education greater than ever. We have recently upgraded our elearning platform and are gradually going through each of the courses updating them. We are waiting for the revised WHO pain guidelines to be published early in 2021 as we update our training on pain assessment and management for children. 

Throughout this pandemic ICPCN has been involved in a range of webinars, providing education and information on children’s palliative care and in particular pain management for individuals from around the world. Taking advantage of the virtual world that we live in at the moment, we have been able to talk to members around the world, including those from Asia, Africa, North America, Oceania, Europe and South America. Fortunately, the virtual world has also given various options for translation, enabling us to participate in webinars not in English. So, whilst we may not have been travelling much physically, we have been virtually and it has been great to keep in touch with colleagues around the world. We are also planning a series of ICPCN led webinars during 2021, with a session in pain assessment and management high on the priority list. We do also continue to hear stories about how individuals – both professionals, families and children, are utilising our Pain App in their day-to-day work, and are learning how to assess and manage pain in children. This is encouraging and great to know that the App is being used and is helpful.

So, whilst this year has not been as we had expected, and we may not have been able to do what we had planned in relation to education and training, our App and clinical care. However, it has opened up new opportunities and at this challenging time we thank you for your ongoing support and we will do all we can to promote palliative care and pain management in children around the world.